Nick Bloise
Nick Bloise earned both a MBA in Finance and a Bachelor’s Degree in Accountancy at California State University, Sacramento. He currently works for the State of California as a senior auditor and runs a small financial services business part-time. Nick enjoys history and has been researching his family genealogy for over 25 years. He has experience in Italian, Latvian, and early New England genealogy and is a volunteer for the Italian Ancestry Indexing Project. In early 2012 Nick was asked to begin an Italian genealogical program for the Italian Culture Center in Carmichael, California. He currently serves as the Executive Director of the Italian Genealogy Society of Sacramento and has volunteered as an Italian specialist at the Sacramento Family Search Library since early Fall 2012.
Nick Bloise earned both a MBA in Finance and a Bachelor’s Degree in Accountancy at California State University, Sacramento. He currently works for the State of California as a senior auditor and runs a small financial services business part-time. Nick enjoys history and has been researching his family genealogy for over 25 years. He has experience in Italian, Latvian, and early New England genealogy and is a volunteer for the Italian Ancestry Indexing Project. In early 2012 Nick was asked to begin an Italian genealogical program for the Italian Culture Center in Carmichael, California. He currently serves as the Executive Director of the Italian Genealogy Society of Sacramento and has volunteered as an Italian specialist at the Sacramento Family Search Library since early Fall 2012.
Lynn Brown
Lynn Brown has been involved in genealogy for over 35 years and has an extensive background in computer research strategies. She graduated from San Jose State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Non-Profit and Alternative Education and in 1982 returned to college for a degree in Electronic Engineering. Nearing retirement from AT&T as a Broadcast Telecommunication Technician, Lynn decided to combine her computer background and teaching skills with genealogy to help others. She began volunteering at the National Archives in San Bruno, and after retiring joined the staff at the Sacramento Regional Family History Center. In 2006 Lynn received her California Teacher Credentials and taught Adult Education Genealogy and Computer Applications at Rancho Cordova and San Juan School Districts. Lynn currently operates her own genealogical consulting business and lectures throughout the Central Valley and Bay Area on a wide variety of genealogical topics.
Kathleen Correia
Kathleen Correia has worked in various departments at the California State Library since 1984 and has been head of the California History Room since 1993. She is very knowledgeable about the special collections of the History Room, including its photographs, maps, manuscripts, and ephemera. (Panel discussion “Using Libraries and Archives.”)
Lorenzo Cuesta
Lorenzo Cuesta began researching his family history in the 1960s because his mother didn't like her mother-in-law and refused to tell him about his father's side of the family. His father was not a reliable source of information, so Lorenzo started investigating and became the family historian. The more he learned about his background, the more he realized that the next generations should know about and honor their ancestors' efforts and sacrifices. His goals have been to further that goal by discovering and sharing his family history, and enabling others to do the same.
Christine DeVillier
Christine DeVillier has been involved in genealogical research as an avocation for over ten years. Her multi-ethnic background (Chinese, German, Danish, English, Tahitian, and possibly other European ancestry) and research has presented her with numerous rich opportunities to broaden her skills with a wide range of techniques. Christine identifies as Chinese American, having grown up in a bilingual Taishan (Hoisanwah) / English speaking household. Research into her Chinese ancestry culminated in a visit to her grandparents' villages in China in 2010, which greatly contributed to her knowledge of the family’s history. Christine regularly volunteers for numerous genealogy events as well as acting as an advisor for interns of an annual ancestry research program, the Him Mark Lai Family History Project. Currently Christine is working towards a Masters Degree in Library Science and raising her infant daughter.
Kendra Dillard
Family stories first piqued Kendra Dillard’s interest in history. She grew up in western North Carolina, where both sides of her family lived in the Blue Ridge Mountains for at least 7 generations. Kendra loved the tales that her grandparents told about their lives and times. She majored in history as an undergraduate and then found a job in a small museum in Florida. Although the job ended after a year, Kendra knew she had found her calling. In 1980 Kendra moved to Minnesota to attend graduate school in history and museum studies. After earning her degree she was employed as curator of historic sites at the Minnesota Historical Society for eleven years. After moving to California fifteen years ago, Kendra worked at the Oakland Museum and the Phoebe Hearst Museum of Anthropology at UC Berkeley before accepting her current position as a curator with California State Parks. As the director of exhibits for the Capitol District, Kendra said it is the human stories that are still at the heart of her work.
Victoria Fisch
Victoria Fisch has been helping people find their family history for over twenty years. She is president of the Jewish Genealogical Society of Sacramento, and Northern California Editor of Western States Jewish History, a quarterly journal in which her articles regularly appear. The history of Jewish immigrant families to the California Gold Rush has been Victoria’s focus of research for the last five years, and she is a member of the Commission for the Preservation of Pioneer Jewish Cemeteries and Landmarks of the West. Victoria is currently editing a book on the Jewish community of Santa Cruz, California, scheduled to be published by the Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History. She works at Folsom History Museum and will curate an exhibit, “Pioneer Jews of the Gold Rush” in April 2014, and is a contributor to the online virtual “Jewish Museum of the American West.”
Jeremy Frankel
Jeremy Frankel is a professional genealogist engaged in family research for almost thirty years. His skills include expertise with internet resources and specialized libraries and archives. President of the San Francisco Bay Area Jewish Genealogical Society for the last twelve years, he has lectured throughout the San Francisco Bay Area and regularly helps clients who have encountered impasses in their own searches. Jeremy has a broad knowledge of U.K. and U.S. documentation and has been enlisted by authors to assist with research for several academic books. He has also conducted investigations for episodes of the popular television series, “Finding Your Roots” and “Who Do You Think You Are.” He is a scheduled consultant for Ancestry Day in San Francisco in November. (Panel discussion “Using Libraries and Archives.”)
Robert Jackson
Robert Jackson holds a PhD in history from Harvard University. After several years’ teaching at the college level, he pursued a professional career in banking and finance. Since retiring Robert has assisted a variety of not-for-profit and community organizations and has enjoyed his hobbies of genealogy and tennis. He lectures throughout the San Francisco Bay Area on French-Canadian ancestry and research. Robert lives in Berkeley, is devoted to his wife, and is very proud of his daughter, now in her junior year at Bennington College in Vermont.
Linda Johnson
Linda Johnson decided to become an archivist after taking an undergraduate introductory course on genealogy at CSU Sacramento. On an assigned visit to an archives Linda became entranced with the research and intrigued by the archival profession. She continued her education and in 1993 earned a Master's degree in Public History with an emphasis in archival work. Having completed a three year internship at the California State Archives, Linda was hired an assistant archivist at the Center for Sacramento History, and a year later as collections manager for Special Collections, Shields Library at UC Davis. In 1997 she became an archivist at the California State Archives, where her current role is as lead for the Education and Outreach Program. Linda has been working on her genealogy since 1988 and has spoken about genealogical resources at the California State Archives at previous Family History Days, as well as at local genealogical societies. (Panel discussion “Using Libraries and Archives.”)
Patricia “Pat” Johnson
Pat Johnson has been a senior archivist at the Center for Sacramento History (formerly SAMCC) since 1995. She received both her BA and her MA in history from CSU Sacramento where she focused her studies on California history. She received her archival training at the California State Archives and Center for Sacramento History. Pat’s duties include reference service, supervising student interns and volunteers, processing collections, giving tours, doing outreach, and preserving collections. She is a past president of the Society of California Archivists and continues to teach an archives class in the graduate school of CSU Sacramento. (Panel discussion “Using Libraries and Archives.”)
Melinda Kashuba
Melinda Kashuba holds a PhD in Geography from the University of California, Los Angeles. She is a popular lecturer, professional genealogist, and the author of Walking with Your Ancestors: a Genealogist’s Guide to Using Maps and Geography. Her specialties include nineteenth and twentieth century American records and maps. Melinda is a member of the National Genealogical Society, the Association of Professional Genealogists, California State Genealogical Alliance, and the Shasta County Genealogical Society. She possesses archival, library, and courthouse research experience throughout California, Nevada, and Hawaii as well as at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, the National Archives in Washington, D.C., the Library of Congress, the Daughters of the American Revolution Library, and The Newberry Library in Chicago. She lives with her family in northern California.
Marian Kile
Marian Kile attended a genealogy seminar in 2005, got hooked, and volunteered to help at the Sacramento Family History Center. Within three years Marian was teaching genealogy classes. Over the last five years she has taught over 130 times from Solano County up to Shasta County. A native of Sacramento, she is researching her family lineage, as well as the families of her husband, daughter-in-law and son-in-law.
Barbara Leak
A fifth-generation Californian, Barbara Leak began searching for her ancestors in the hope of discovering where they came from before California. She quickly traced her ancestry across the continent to colonial America, and across the sea to England, Germany, and Denmark. Barbara now has more than 25 years of experience as a genealogical researcher and educator. She has presented genealogy and local history programs to audiences ranging from third-graders to senior citizens, and has lectured at conferences and workshops sponsored by the National Genealogical Society, Federation of Genealogical Societies, Sacramento FamilySearch Center, and numerous libraries and societies throughout northern California. She is past president of the Genealogical & Historical Council of Sacramento Valley, past president of the Placer County Genealogical Society, a long-time volunteer at the Auburn Family History Center, and a California State Genealogical Alliance Distinguished Service Award recipient.
Lisa B. Lee
Professional genealogist Lisa B. Lee is owner of GotGenealogy.com, a website designed to help genealogists make the most of their online searches. A graduate of the National Institute for Genealogical Studies (University of Toronto), she obtained her PLCGS with certificates in U.S., Canadian and Irish genealogy and methodology. Lisa acted as an “expert” with ExpertConnect by Ancestry.com from its inception in 2009 until 2011, conducting professional research for clients in the U.S. and Europe. In addition to the Got Genealogy Gazette, her articles have been published in numerous genealogical journals and newsletters. Lisa speaks and conducts workshops at genealogical societies and conferences throughout the U.S. and Canada. Lisa is past president of the California State Genealogical Alliance (CSGA), former Board Chair and Journal Editor of the African American Genealogical Society of Northern California (AAGSNC), and former board member of the California Genealogical Society (CGS).
Glenda Gardner Lloyd
Glenda Gardner Lloyd is a fourth generation Californian who grew up on a cattle ranch in the northeastern part of the state where she attended a one-room schoolhouse. She received her BA from UC Santa Barbara and her MA from California State University, Sacramento. Glenda taught elementary school and worked as a reading specialist for thirty-eight years. She helped organize and served as the first president of Root Cellar Sacramento Genealogical Society, and has taught genealogy classes through San Juan Adult Education for the past 25 years. Glenda participates in local seminars for the California State Archives, regional Family History Center, Sacramento Public Library, presents workshops for many local societies, and has lectured for the Salt Lake Institute. Genealogy is Glenda’s hobby and her passion, which she hopes to share with all of you.
Kathryn Marshall
Kathryn Marshall holds a PhD in Psychology from UC Berkeley, where for eight years she taught about the relationship of beliefs, attitudes, and behavior. Now in her second decade as Director of the Lodi California Family History Center, Kathryn is a frequent speaker at conferences and county historical society workshops. Her curriculum augmentation book, Discovery of California Gold, is now being distributed to elementary school teachers throughout the state. Kathryn has written biographical sketches of pioneers and interpretive panels for museum exhibits, edited historical reference books, and published maps of the transportation networks between the Great Salt Lake Basin and California. After years of painstaking research, Kathryn is writing a history of the first shipload of American families to reach California after the Bear Flag Revolt. These fleeing refugees became the surprising transformers of Yerba Buena into the vibrant city of San Francisco.
Vi Parsons
Vi Parsons began her pursuit of genealogy when she was a teenager and questioned her parents about her ancestors, then became seriously involved in family history research after the birth of her first grandchild. This became a joyful journey of studying and teaching genealogy. Vi received accreditation from Brigham Young University for her studies in Beginning Genealogy and was awarded a certificate in American Genealogy from the National Genealogical Society. She is a member of the International Society of Family History Writers and Editors (ISFHWE). Vi documented her Dragoo ancestors to France and England in the 1600s and published her Dragoo family history books: Dragoo Cemetery of Marion County, West Virginia; Jacob Dragoo and our Susanna Bright Side, and The Legendary Indian Billy Dragoo. She co-authored Double Take, a book of short stories of childhood memories. Vi and her twin Violet C. Moore are the creators of Carr Twins & Co.
Shirley Riemer
A graduate of the University of Pittsburgh, Shirley Riemer earned her Masters Degree in English from Carnegie-Mellon University. She taught high school English for ten years, then worked in the communications field for twenty-two years. She is the author of The German Research Companion, co-authored a third edition with Dr. Roger P. Minert and Jennifer A. Anderson and collaborated with Dr. Minert on the book Researching in Germany: A Handbook for Your Visit to the Homeland of Your Ancestors. For the last twenty years Shirley has produced Der Blumenbaum, the journal of the Sacramento German Genealogy Society, and publishes a quarterly newsletter, Mitteilungen, for the Sacramento Turn Verein German-American Cultural Center. Since 1971 Shirley has made about 45 scouting trips to Germany. She has worked extensively with German researchers known nationally for their expertise, disseminating helpful information to those pursuing their German family history.
Bob Ringo
Bob Ringo is a statistician by education. He worked as a researcher at Stanford Research Institute (SRI) before cofounding ATAC, a software engineering firm in Sunnyvale. For over twenty years Bob, who is of 3/32 Cherokee Indian blood, has been researching his Cherokee ancestral lines. He has painstakingly compiled a database that currently contains over 250,000 individual Cherokees to whom he is related. Currently Bob is president of both the Sun City Lincoln Hills Computer and Genealogy Clubs.
Janice Sellers
Janice M. Sellers is an editor and professional genealogist who specializes in Jewish and newspaper research. She is publicity director for the San Francisco Bay Area Jewish Genealogical Society and the editor of three genealogy journals. Janice is on the board of the California State Genealogical Alliance and a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists, the Genealogical Speakers Guild, the Council for the Advancement of Forensic Genealogy, the California Genealogical Society, and the African American Genealogical Society of Northern California, among others. She has been on the staff of the Oakland FamilySearch Library since 2000.
Martha Teeter
Dr. Martha Teeter has been doing genealogical research for over 40 years, following in the footsteps of her father, her brother, and alongside her sister. She has loved the ballads of Britain since high school. She has extensive ancestral roots on the East Coast and recently discovered her New England and Ulster Scots background, which led to an interest in cultural migrations. A high school classmate suggested the book, Albion’s Seed, for British cultural history, and she then found Dollarhide’s book on Colonial Migrations, and both books make up the nucleus of her talk. A retired professor, she has lectured widely in her scientific disciple and still teaches at UC Davis Medical Center. Currently she is President-Elect of her national scientific society, the American Crystallographic Association.
Marielle Tsukamoto
Marielle Tsukamoto was born in Sacramento, California, where her father had a small farm. In 1942 when persons of Japanese ancestry were ordered off the west coast, her family was sent to an internment camp in Arkansas. After the war the Tsukamotos were among the fortunate few able to return to their farm. Motivated by her mother's love of teaching, Marielle fulfilled a life-long dream and graduated from the University of the Pacific in Stockton, California with a BA in education. She began teaching in 1959, and spent 24 years teaching in San Jose before returning to Elk Grove as a vice principal and principal of an elementary school. After retirement Marielle became Project Director of Educational Programs for the Anti-Defamation League from 2001-2003, teaching children about the wartime internment of Japanese Americans and loss of their civil rights. She currently serves as president of the Florin Chapter of the Japanese American Citizens League, a civil rights organization.
